Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

The State of Uttar Pradesh charged Babul Nath with rape of a five‑year‑old girl. The trial court convicted him based on an eye‑witness who saw the victim bleeding and the accused fleeing, and on a medical report showing a torn hymen, lacerations and other injuries indicating sexual intercourse. The Allahabad High Court…

The State of Uttar Pradesh charged Krishna Gopal and an associate with murder under IPC sections 302 and 34. The trial court convicted them based on two eye‑witnesses and the deceased's statements recorded as dying declarations, accepting that the victim remained conscious long enough to make those statements. The Alla…

The Supreme Court examined the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, in connection with the Delhi excise policy case alleging kickbacks and money‑laundering. Kejriwal challenged the arrest as illegal, arguing that the "reasons to believe" did not disclose all materi…

The appellant, Sadhna Chaudhary, alleged that a police officer (respondent No.2) drugged and sexually exploited her, threatened to release obscene videos, and continued to harass her for two years, culminating in a violent assault in June 2020 for which she lodged an FIR under Sections 376, 323, 341, 354 and 379 IPC. T…

The case involves three appellants who, along with seven others, stopped a vehicle carrying the deceased and his friends, leading to a verbal altercation and subsequent assault with sticks and a brick that caused the deceased's death. The trial court convicted all six remaining accused under sections 302 and 304 IPC, a…

The case arose from a violent dispute over a bund in which a large number of persons were alleged to have participated. The FIR named fifteen persons, but thirty‑nine were tried. The trial court convicted six accused, including the appellants, under Sections 302/149 IPC despite the charge sheet being framed under Secti…

The Madras Times published an article alleging that K.J. Hospital was involved in illegal kidney trafficking. The hospital's Director filed a criminal defamation complaint under Section 500 IPC, asserting that the imputation harmed the hospital and, by extension, himself. The trial magistrate discharged the publisher, …

During a minister's visit to Kannur in 1994, police firing resulted in five deaths and many injuries, leading to two FIRs (Crimes 353/94 and 354/94). After a change of government, a Commission of Inquiry blamed the firing and the Director‑General of Police ordered a fresh FIR (Crime 268/97) three years later, initiatin…

The appellant, Rajendra Prasad, was tried under the NDPS Act. After both sides had closed their evidence, the prosecution sought to re‑examine two witnesses under Section 311 of the Criminal Procedure Code to prove certain documents. The trial court allowed the resummoning, and the appellant challenged this, arguing th…

The appellants, senior engineering officials and contractors, were convicted for alleged conspiracy, cheating and falsification of accounts in connection with jungle‑clearance projects in Nellore district, based solely on circumstantial evidence and a technical report prepared by a departmental officer during the inves…

The case arose from the murder of Suresh Narsinh Dubey in 1989, for which Hitendra Vishnu Thakur and others were arrested under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 (TADA). After a series of investigations, the accused sought bail on the ground that the prosecution had failed to file a charge‑…

K.J. John, an Assistant Public Prosecutor Grade I in Kerala, filed a writ petition under Article 32 challenging the State's appointment of Public Prosecutors (PP) and Additional Public Prosecutors (APP) on the ground that Section 24(6) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), as amended in 1978, obliges the State to a…

The Supreme Court examined an appeal by three officers who had participated in a raid on a electricity theft case, challenging the dismissal of their petition under Section 482 of the CrPC. After the raid, the accused filed a complaint alleging that the officers demanded illegal gratification, but the complaint lacked …

The complainant alleged that Narayana Multispecialty Hospital overcharged for an HRCT test that was not performed, delayed the supply of medical records, and that hospital staff threatened him when he raised the issue. He filed a criminal complaint invoking Sections 405, 420 and 120B of the IPC and Section 34 of the We…

The appellant NDA Securities Ltd. filed a criminal appeal challenging a Delhi High Court order that had allowed a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC filed by respondent No.2, directing the Bombay Stock Exchange to release Rs 15.90 lakhs withheld as payout for shares sold on superdari. The dispute arose from an FIR …

The appellant, Gautam Navlakha, was arrested in connection with a UAPA case and placed under house arrest for 34 days after a transit remand order was stayed by the Delhi High Court. He later surrendered and was taken into police custody, seeking default bail on the ground that the house‑arrest period should count towa…

The petitioner, Sujatha Ravi Kiran, filed a complaint alleging physical and mental cruelty, sexual abuse and wife‑swapping by her naval officer husband, his family and five other naval officers, leading to FIR No.260/2013 in Kerala. The husband’s anticipatory bail was denied and the Kerala High Court ordered a special …

The appellants, who had secured admission to medical colleges in Madhya Pradesh through the Pre‑Medical Entrance Test (PMT), challenged the cancellation of their results and admissions on the grounds that the Vyapam Board was not validly constituted under the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board Act, 2007 and …

The police seized 11 kg of ganja from Asha Devi’s residence after acting on secret information; her husband Om Prakash escaped. A search was conducted in the presence of a gazetted officer and samples were sealed with the letters “RP” and “MS”. The trial court acquitted the accused, relying on the absence of an indepen…

The respondent, a government servant, was convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and sentenced to one year’s rigorous imprisonment. The High Court, on an application under Section 389(1) of the Cr.P.C., suspended the execution of the sentence but did not stay the conviction. The Department dismissed the…

The appellants purchased an undivided share of a joint family land but did not acquire any specific portion or possession. On the day of the incident the co‑owner Harda Ram and his son were ploughing the field when the appellants, armed with lathis and jallies, entered the land and inflicted fatal injuries on Harda Ram…

The Supreme Court upheld the convictions of six accused in a gang‑murder case at Radhika Gymkhana, Ahmedabad, where nine persons were killed on 3 August 1992. The trial court had relied heavily on confessional statements recorded under Section 15 of the TADA Act, along with a dying declaration, witness testimony, and f…

The appellants were summoned as additional accused in a murder trial under Section 319 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) solely on the basis of the first informant’s statement. The trial court allowed the application, and the High Court dismissed the appellants’ revision, prompting a criminal appeal before the Supr…

The case concerns the murder of Karanjit Singh on 7 February 1995 when accused Gurlabh Singh, on the instruction of co‑accused Rajesh Narang, fired a .12‑bore DBBL gun after stopping a college bus with a gypsy. The trial court convicted both accused under Section 302 IPC (murder) and, for Narang, under Section 29 of th…

Manu Sharma was acquitted by the trial court of murder (IPC 302 r/w 201, 120B) and an Arms Act offence, but the Delhi High Court set aside the acquittal, convicted him and sentenced him to life imprisonment. While his appeal against the conviction was pending before the Supreme Court, he filed an application under Sect…

The appellant, R. S. Gorkhi, was convicted of murder committed on 15‑05‑1979 and claimed he was a minor at the time, seeking protection under Section 2(4) of the Uttar Pradesh Children Act, 1951. The Sessions Judge had relied solely on a school leaving certificate, dated 1998, which recorded his birth as 01‑06‑1963, an…

The appellant, a Deputy Superintendent of Stamps, was charged under the IPC and Sections 3(2), 3(5) and 24 of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) for allegedly aiding a large‑scale fake‑stamp racket. He had been in custody for over two years when the Special Court denied his bail application under Se…

The State of Himachal Pradesh appealed a High Court revision that set aside the conviction of Karanvir, a postmaster, under Section 409 of the IPC for misappropriating Rs. 8,000 entrusted to him for the purchase of National Savings Certificates. The complainant had deposited the amount with the postmaster, who, as a pu…

The appellants, Budh Singh and five others, were charged with murdering Ram Gopal and his wife Chatarvati and attempting to murder their son Rajveer Singh over a land dispute. The prosecution’s case relied on an FIR lodged at 00:25 on 13 April 1992, which reached the court on 18 April, and on medical and eyewitness evi…

The appellants filed a complaint alleging that police officers, who had arrested and detained them, failed to produce them before a magistrate within 24 hours and beat them while in custody. The magistrate, relying on a Maharashtra Government notification under Section 197(3) of the CrPC, discharged the officers on the…

The respondent‑police officer filed a complaint before a Metropolitan Magistrate alleging that the appellants, police officers, had committed offences including sections 166, 167, 219 etc. of the IPC and an offence under section 147(G) of the Bombay Police Act. The Magistrate took cognizance and issued process, which t…

The case involved a mercenary killing where the victim Ramu Somani survived and gave a statement to a magistrate, which the prosecution treated as a dying declaration. The Supreme Court held that because the declarant was alive, the statement could not be admitted under Section 32 of the Evidence Act and could only be …

The father, Bhagirath, and his two nephews were convicted by the Sessions Court for the murder of Bhagirath's blind son, Subhram, under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC. The High Court upheld the nephews' convictions but acquitted Bhagirath, invoking a "benefit of doubt" despite reliable eye‑witness testimon…

The appellants were convicted by a trial court under Section 392 read with Section 397 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and sentenced to ten years’ rigorous imprisonment. They appealed to the Gujarat High Court, seeking suspension of the sentence, which was denied, and later also sought an expedited hearing of the app…

The appellants conspired to kidnap a ten‑year‑old boy and demand a ransom of Rs 5 lakhs. After abducting the child, Mohan and Gopi administered poison, tied the boy’s limbs and neck, and strangled him, later disposing of the body in a TV box placed in a well. All four accused – Mohan, Gopi, Muthu and Pushparaj – were s…

The appellant alleged that the respondents forged a personal recognizance bond and a surety bond before they were filed as evidence in a criminal case pending before a Judicial Magistrate. The lower courts dismissed the appellant's complaint and the revisional court directed a preliminary enquiry under Section 340 of t…

The case concerns Accused X, convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering two minor girls, for which a death sentence was imposed. The petitioner challenged the conviction on two grounds: (i) the trial court failed to conduct a separate pre‑sentence hearing as required by Section 235(2) of the CrPC, and (ii) the petit…

The Supreme Court examined whether Section 84(2) of the Electricity Act, 2003 obliges a High Court Judge to be appointed as Chairperson of a State Electricity Regulatory Commission and whether a member of law is required on the Commission. By interpreting the statutory language, the Court held that Section 84(2) is mer…

The case arose from the murder of Tamanna Khatoon, for which her husband Mukhtar filed an FIR against two accused. During investigation, witnesses under Section 164 of the CrPC alleged that Mukhtar himself killed his wife. The CJM took cognizance of the murder and related offences after reviewing the charge‑sheet and s…

Hindustan Unilever Ltd. and five others were charged under Section 16 of the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act for allegedly selling adulterated Kesar Pista ice‑cream. The Public Analyst’s report declared the sample adulterated, but one co‑accused invoked the right under Section 13(2) of the PFA Act to have a s…

V. Sejappa, a public servant, was charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for allegedly demanding and receiving Rs 5,000 as bribe to issue a No‑Objection Certificate for a pension claim. The trial court acquitted him, holding that the prosecution failed to prove a demand and that the sanction order was def…

The petitioners, convicted under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) and sentenced to death, sought commutation of their sentences under Article 72 of the Constitution. After a delay of about eight years in deciding the mercy petition, they argued that the delay itself warranted conversion o…

The appellant's daughter died within five months of her marriage, leading to FIRs under Sections 498A, 304B, 302, 406 IPC and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. Multiple bail applications under Section 438 of the CrPC were filed by the accused, initially rejected by the Sessions Judge and the High Court, but later…

An FIR was lodged alleging offences under Sections 341, 323 and 435 IPC. Police investigation found that two women, Minu Kumari and Runjhun Kumari, were not involved and submitted a charge sheet only against two men. The Chief Judicial Magistrate, however, took cognizance and issued summons against all accused, includi…

The case arose from the Best Bakery arson in Vadodara, where fourteen people were killed and the accused were acquitted by the trial court after key eyewitnesses turned hostile, allegedly due to political threats. Zahira Sheikh, an eyewitness, filed affidavits with the NHRC alleging coercion and the State sought to adm…

The appellant Narendra Singh was accused of murdering his wife Bimlabai by throttling her and then setting her body on fire, allegedly to conceal a dowry dispute. The trial court acquitted all accused, but the Madhya Pradesh High Court reversed the acquittal, convicting the husband under Sections 302/34 IPC and both th…

The appellant, N.K. Prasada, was respondent No.8 in two writ petitions filed as public interest litigations (PIL) in the Andhra Pradesh High Court alleging malfunctioning of the Commissioner of Central Excise and Customs. The High Court held that the petitions were engineered by the appellant to avoid a transfer order,…

The Supreme Court examined the 1993 Bombay bomb blasts case, where 145 persons were charged under the IPC and the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 (TADA). The Court clarified the law on criminal conspiracy, holding that knowledge of an illegal use can be inferred when the goods (e.g., RDX) hav…

The General Secretary of an employees' association filed a complaint against a security officer and the institute's Director, alleging offences under the IPC. The Chief Judicial Magistrate, after a Section 202 inquiry, found no prima facie case against the Director and declined to issue process, while proceeding agains…

The appellant, Dablu Kujur, challenged the High Court's dismissal of his bail application in a case involving offences under the IPC and Arms Act. The Supreme Court examined whether the police report (charge sheet) filed under Section 173(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 complied with the statutory requiremen…

The appellants, senior officials of a bicycle manufacturing company, were charged under Sections 406, 420 and 506 IPC for alleged cheating and criminal breach of trust arising from a payment dispute with a contractor. The contractor claimed underpayment for assembling 83,267 bicycles, leading to an FIR and subsequent c…

The case involved Bhima Razu Prasad, who was charged with offences under the IPC, PC Act and alleged to have concealed disproportionate assets. During investigation, accused No.2 and No.3 claimed the seized money was held in escrow, producing a fabricated sale deed to shield Prasad. The trial and High Courts convicted …

The appellant, a consumer of electricity, was issued a bill of Rs.3,54,598.21 by BSES for alleged theft of electricity and a FIR was filed against him under Section 135 of the Electricity Act, 2003. The parties later settled the dispute in a Special Lok Adalat, agreeing on a payment of Rs.1,60,000, and the appellant fi…

The appellants, Bannareddy and others, were convicted by the Karnataka High Court for offences under Sections 148, 341, 504 and 326 read with 149 of the IPC arising from an alleged assault on three victims during a village fair. The trial court had acquitted them, finding that the prosecution’s case was riddled with co…

A contractual government teacher in Odisha was sexually harassed by a Sub‑Inspector of Schools, lodged multiple complaints, and was later set ablaze, dying from her injuries. The petitioner, a law student, filed a writ under Article 32 seeking transfer of the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) a…

The Supreme Court heard a public‑interest writ petition filed by Pravasi Bhalai Sangathan seeking pre‑emptive orders against hate speeches by elected representatives, arguing that such speeches violate Articles 14, 15, 19, 21 and fundamental duties. The Court examined whether existing statutes—IPC, SC/ST (Prevention of…

The husband, Ajay Kumar, filed a habeas corpus petition before the Allahabad High Court alleging that his wife, Rashmi, was illegally detaining their minor son. In reality, the child had been living with the mother in Maharashtra since birth. The husband had earlier filed a criminal application in the Bombay High Court…

The petitioners, the son of a deceased college professor who was killed in a brutal assault, sought transfer of the criminal trial from Ujjain to another state, alleging witness intimidation, coercion, and bias by the investigating officer and public prosecutor. Several eye‑witnesses and three police witnesses had turn…

The appellants were convicted for the murder of two villagers after a violent mob attacked them with bombs and sharp weapons, subsequently burning the bodies. The prosecution alleged that the accused formed an unlawful assembly of five or more persons with a common object to kill the victims, and that each participant …

Rajesh Bajaj, a garment exporter, filed a complaint alleging that a German buyer promised payment on receipt of invoices but paid only a part of the amount and later reneged on a further promise. The complaint invoked Sections 415 and 420 of the IPC, and the FIR was subsequently quashed by the Delhi High Court on the g…

The State of Haryana appealed the Punjab & Haryana High Court's acquittal of five accused who had been convicted of rioting, murder and attempted murder. The High Court had set aside the trial court's convictions on the basis that the accused acted in private defence of person and property. The Supreme Court examined w…

Five persons, including Jagdish Narain and his two sons, were tried for rioting and the murder of Jitendra Nath after allegedly ambushing him and firing shots. The trial court acquitted them, citing contradictions between eye‑witness statements and their earlier statements under Section 161 CrPC and alleging a faulty i…

Mohan (appellant) claimed title to a property he had purchased from Bhiwa, who had earlier gifted the same land to the respondents. The respondents filed suit for declaration of title and possession. The trial court allowed attachment of the property, but the appellant challenged this in a separate suit (No. 42-A of 19…

Pratibha Rani, an estranged wife, filed a criminal complaint under s.406 IPC alleging that her husband Suraj Kumar, his father, brothers and brother‑in‑law had misappropriated her stridhan (dowry) worth Rs.60,000 that was entrusted to them at the time of marriage. The Punjab & Haryana High Court quashed the complaint u…

The State of Rajasthan sought to file an application under CrPC section 378 for leave to appeal an acquittal in a murder case, which was filed by a Deputy Government Advocate (DGA). The Rajasthan High Court held that the DGA lacked locus standi as a Public Prosecutor and dismissed the application. On appeal, the Suprem…

The case arose from a decree of nullity under Section 11 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, wherein the Punjab & Haryana High Court had held the marriage void. The appellant contested whether, despite the void status, the spouse could claim permanent alimony under Section 25 and interim maintenance under Section 24 of th…

The appellant, an independent non‑executive director of D.S. Kulkarni Developers Ltd., was named in complaints under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for the dishonour of cheques issued by the company. The cheques were not signed by him and he had resigned from the board before the offences occurred. He so…

The trial court acquitted three accused of murder after finding the eyewitnesses' testimonies implausible and noting contradictions in medical evidence. The High Court reversed the acquittal, relying on the same eyewitness accounts and post‑mortem report to convict the accused under section 302 IPC. On appeal, the Supr…

The case concerned the grant of anticipatory bail to B. Ramu, accused of procuring and supplying 232.5 kg of ganja, a quantity far exceeding the commercial quantity of 20 kg under the NDPS Act. The Madras High Court had allowed the bail application under Section 438 of the CrPC despite opposition from the public prosec…

The State of Odisha filed a Special Leave Petition challenging the acquittal of Banabihari Mohapatra and his son for the alleged murder of Bijay Kumar Tadu, whose body was found with electric shock injuries in the accused's shop. The prosecution relied on circumstantial evidence, including the deceased’s presence at th…

The accused Chandru @ Chandrasekaran and Siva were convicted of murder (s.302 r/w s.120B) based solely on circumstantial evidence and a private complaint filed four years after the death. The Supreme Court examined the reliability of the complainants' statements, the delay in filing the private complaint, the lack of a…

Eleven accused were tried for murder under Sections 148, 302/149, 323/149 and 506/149 IPC, and the trial court convicted all of them. The High Court acquitted eight of the accused, but upheld the conviction of three appellants by altering the charge from Section 149 to Section 34 IPC, convicting them under Section 302/…

The State of Uttar Pradesh prosecuted Sukhpal Singh and others for offences under section 396 of the Indian Penal Code, alleging that on 1 September 1979 a group of armed men entered a house, fired indiscriminately, killed two persons and injured two others. Dying declarations of the deceased and statements of injured …

The case arose from an FIR reporting theft of five idols, leading to the investigation and conviction of four accused, including the appellant Ram Naresh Prasad. The prosecution’s application under Section 319 CrPC to summon the appellant was dismissed, but a final report against him was later accepted. Two years later…

The appellant filed an FIR alleging an offence under Section 3(1)(ix) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The accused filed a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC seeking quash of the proceedings on the ground that the FIR did not mention his caste. The Bombay High Court allow…

The accused Kannika was convicted by the trial court under IPC sections 306 (abetting suicide) and 294(8) (obscene acts). The appellate court acquitted him, but the Madras High Court, on revision, restored the conviction. The Supreme Court was approached to examine whether the High Court erred by not considering the su…

The State of Punjab appealed against the Punjab and Haryana High Court's order quashing an FIR under Section 36 of the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulations, 1995, on the ground that the individual share of the joint family property was less than 1000 sq.m. The Supreme Court examined the scope of the High Court's i…

The appellants contended that a false affidavit filed with a protest petition, after the informant's death, rendered the magistrate's order invalid. The Sessions Judge had held that the magistrate could not have proceeded, but the High Court reversed, finding that the magistrate's order was based on the police report f…

Police seized a truck carrying resin on the ground that the driver could not produce an export permit. The Forest Officer ordered confiscation of the truck under Section 59(2) of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 (as amended). The Additional Sessions Judge, on appeal, held that the officer lacked jurisdiction because the pro…

The Supreme Court examined whether a Metropolitan Magistrate could, at a very advanced stage of trial, implead two bank officials as additional accused under Section 319 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The trial had already examined 49 witnesses, and only the statements of three subsequent witnesses suggested possible …

Pammi (Brijendra Singh) and accomplices, armed, went to the house of PW‑5 to settle a business dispute. The three deceased arrived to pacify the situation, leading to a heated altercation during which Pammi and the others opened fire, killing all three. Pammi pleaded private defence, claiming the deceased attacked with…

The husband, Lakhmi, was alleged to have killed his young wife by striking her head with a spade (phali) and a blunt instrument (kunda). Several eyewitnesses saw the assault, and the accused, when examined under Section 313 of the CrPC, admitted killing his wife with a kunda, denying the use of the phali. The trial cou…

The appellants were convicted for kidnapping, murder and illegal possession of a firearm under the Arms Act and TADA. The prosecution’s case relied on the victim’s father’s testimony about a witness’s statement, statements recorded by police before investigation, the accused’s own statements about the location of the b…

Satbir filed a criminal appeal after the Punjab & Haryana High Court acquitted twelve accused of rioting and murder under Sections 148, 149 and 302 IPC, relying on alleged identification failures, the status of witnesses as "chance" witnesses, the relationship of a witness to the deceased, contradictions about weapons …

The appellants, eight brothers and relatives, disputed a strip of land owned by the deceased and, on 17 August 1982, armed themselves with axes and sticks, attacked the deceased and others, causing the deaths of two victims. The trial court convicted them under Sections 302, 324, 325 read with Section 149 IPC, but the …

Four persons were tried for the killing of Akbar on 9 January 1999. The trial court convicted A1, A2 and A3 under sections 302 and 323 read with section 34 of the IPC, while acquitting them of section 325, and later the High Court altered the convictions, acquitting A1 of 302/34 and A2 of 302/34 but upholding A2's conv…

The case involved a murder where three accused were convicted based largely on circumstantial evidence, including a "last seen" theory and alleged recoveries of the victim's body, ornaments, and a spade. The prosecution relied on a disclosure statement allegedly made by accused No.3 (Boby) to claim the body was recover…

The appellant, Prakash Nayi, was convicted under Section 302 IPC for murdering a shop employee and appealed on the ground of insanity under Section 84 IPC. Medical evidence, including two doctors' reports, indicated that he suffered from chronic schizophrenia, a condition that rendered him incapable of understanding th…

The appellants were convicted for murder and related offences under Sections 148, 302/149, 324/149 and 304 Part‑II of the IPC based largely on a statement recorded by the investigating officer (PW‑20) from the deceased Hukum Singh, thumb‑impression evidence, and eye‑witness testimony. The Supreme Court examined the cre…

The appellant, Anversinh, was convicted under Sections 361 and 366 of the Indian Penal Code for kidnapping a 16‑year‑old girl and attempting to compel her marriage, after the girl was recovered from his custody. The appellant argued that the relationship was consensual and that the girl had voluntarily left her parents…

The Himachal Pradesh Bus Stand Management and Development Authority (HPBSM&DA) obtained a 99‑year lease on forest land that had been diverted for a parking space and a bus stand under Forest (Conservation) Act orders of 1997 and 2001. It then authorised a private contractor to construct a Bus Stand‑cum‑Parking Complex …

Alister Anthony Pareira was convicted for causing the death of seven labourers and grievous injuries to eight others by driving a car rashly and negligently while under the influence of alcohol. The Supreme Court examined whether a person could be tried and convicted under both s.304(Part II) IPC (culpable homicide not…

The case involved a murder where the complainant, Azija Begum, alleged that the police investigation was inadequate and the magistrate, under Section 173(8) of the CrPC, ordered further investigation but retained the same police agency. The appellant challenged this order before the High Court under Article 227, arguin…

Bharat Lal Sharma was murdered in 2008 and the police filed a charge‑sheet naming Hari Singh as the sole accused. After Hari Singh was committed to the Sessions Court, the victim's father filed a private complaint under Section 200 CrPC against Jile Singh and Jayveer Singh. The Chief Judicial Magistrate, relying on Sec…

The appellants – Iqbal Moosa Patel, Derajram Jat and Ashuram Durgaram Chaudhary – were convicted under the NDPS Act for smuggling heroin after a truck was intercepted based on secret intelligence and a subsequent raid on Patel's residence seized 3.056 kg of heroin. They contended that the prosecution had not proved the…

The appellant was convicted for the rape and murder of a five‑year‑old girl and for causing disappearance of evidence, based primarily on circumstantial evidence. The prosecution proved that the appellant was seen fleeing the scene, that blood‑stained clothes of the victim were recovered from his sister's house followi…

Rubabbuddin Sheikh filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking a CBI investigation into the alleged fake encounter of his brother Sohrabuddin, the disappearance of his sister‑in‑law Kausarbi, and the killing of material witness Tulsiram, all allegedly perpetrated by Gujarat police. The State of Gujarat submitted eig…

The Supreme Court examined whether a confession recorded under Section 15 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 (TADA) remains admissible for offences under other statutes when the accused is acquitted of TADA charges but tried together with those offences under Section 12. The Court held th…

The appellant Mathai was convicted by the trial court and the Kerala High Court for voluntarily causing grievous hurt by using a stone, under Section 326 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). He appealed to the Supreme Court, contending that the injury did not amount to "grievous hurt" and that the stone could not be classif…

The appellants, T. Shankar Prasad (Assistant Commercial Tax Officer) and Ghaiz Basha (Junior Assistant), were convicted under Sections 7, 13(1)(d) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for demanding and receiving a bribe to issue way‑bills. The complainant paid the demanded amount to the junior assistant …

The appellant was convicted under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act and sentenced by a Judicial Magistrate of First Class to six months' imprisonment and a fine of Rs 83,000. The conviction and sentence were affirmed by the Sessions Judge and the Gujarat High Court. On appeal to the Supreme Court, the appel…

The Supreme Court entertained a public interest litigation filed by M.C. Mehta seeking relief from the severe pollution of the River Ganga at Kanpur, where 274.5 million litres of untreated sewage were being discharged daily. The petition raised the question of whether a non‑riparian citizen could sue for a public nuis…

The Supreme Court examined an appeal against a Rajasthan High Court order that granted anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to the accused in a dowry‑death case. The death of the daughter‑in‑law was still under investigation when the High Court intervened. The Court held that the High C…

The respondent, V.P. Sayed Mohammed, was seized with 28 gold bars at Trichur railway station and charged under s.135(b) of the Customs Act, 1962 read with s.85(ii) of the Gold (Control) Act, 1968. Evidence included the inspector’s seizure report, a ticket collector’s testimony, a goldsmith’s certification that the bars…

The appellant Jothi @ Nagajothi and her husband were intercepted by police who seized 23.5 kg of ganja and seized cash, drawing two samples (S-1 and S-2) at the spot and forwarding one for forensic analysis. The trial court convicted them under Sections 8(c) r/w 20(b)(ii)(C) and 8(c) r/w 29(1) of the NDPS Act, imposing…

The appellants, North Eastern Chemicals Industries Ltd. and another, claimed payment of principal and interest from Ashok Paper Mill (Assam) Ltd. under the Jogighopa (Assam) Unit of Ashok Paper Mills Limited (Acquisition Transfer of Undertaking) Act, 1990. The Commissioner of Payments awarded the principal but initiall…

The State of Odisha filed a criminal appeal against the High Court’s order that quashed FIR proceedings under Sections 420 r/w 120B IPC and Sections 13(2) and 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act against public servants of the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and the Housing & Urban Development Departmen…

The case arose from a firearm clash on 8 May 2020 in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, leading to two FIRs: FIR No.406 filed by Laxman Prasad Pandey alleging his brother was killed by the rival group, and FIR No.407 filed by the rival group alleging Pandey's party were the aggressors. The High Court granted regular bail to th…

The case concerned the murder of Sarman Singh, for which six accused were charged under sections 147, 148, 149, 302, 449 and 452 of the IPC. The trial court acquitted all accused, but the High Court convicted three of them (Ramji Singh, Laxman Singh and Lala Ram) based on the testimony of two eye‑witnesses (PW‑1 and PW…

The Supreme Court addressed the protection of identity of victims of sexual offences, both adult and child, under IPC s.228A, CrPC s.327 and the POCSO Act. It held that no person may publish the victim's name or any detail that could lead to identification, and FIRs relating to such offences must not be placed in the p…

The appellant, a grieving father, challenged the grant of anticipatory and interim bail to the top management executives of Ryan International School, who were accused in the murder of his 7‑year‑old son. The respondents filed bail applications in the Bombay High Court and later in the Punjab & Haryana High Court, whic…

The petition was filed by the father of a college girl who died after falling from a hostel roof, alleging that the death resulted from ragging and that the Rajasthan police investigation was biased, incomplete, and failed to record the victim's statement. The petitioner sought a transfer of the investigation to the Ce…

The appellant, Dr. Kamlesh Kumar, was charged under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for the dishonour of a cheque that he alleged was stolen. The complainant presented the same cheque twice, first on 25‑Oct‑2008 and again on 10‑Nov‑2008, each time it was returned unpaid. A legal notice demanding payment w…

The appellants were convicted under IPC sections 395, 396 and 397 for a burglary‑murder that occurred in 1995. Both were arrested ten years later; an identification parade was held only for A1, who later died, while no parade was conducted for A2. The trial court sentenced both to death under section 396, which the Hig…

The appellant was convicted under Sections 279 and 304A of the IPC for causing the death of a seven‑year‑old girl by negligent driving of a tractor. He was sentenced to six months' simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs.2,000, with the conviction under Section 279 later set aside by the High Court. During the pendency of…

In 1994 the CBI searched and later arrested a telecom officer, later filing a corruption charge‑sheet. The officer complained to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) alleging illegal detention and harassment. After an initial dismissal, the NHRC, treating the complaint as a review petition, found a prima facie c…

The brother of the deceased appealed against the Patna High Court’s order quashing criminal proceedings against the mother‑in‑law, Sita Devi, and others. Sita Devi had originally lodged FIR No. 135 alleging outsiders murdered her daughter‑in‑law, but police later discovered that the murder was a conspiracy involving he…

The appellant, a former army man, was convicted of murdering Kanta Devi, who was shot in her courtyard at night. The deceased, moments before being shot, shouted that the appellant was standing with a gun. The gun was later found near the body. The appellant appealed, arguing that the omission in the FIR regarding the …

The petitioner sought anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, and the High Court granted an ad‑interim order valid until 26 September 1995, imposing a condition that he report daily to the police station. Upon expiry of that order, the High Court judge directed the petitioner to file a re…

The appellants were charged under IPC s.341 (wrongful restraint) and Banking Regulation Act s.36AD for allegedly obstructing bank officers at a Grindlays Bank branch. The Metropolitan Magistrate acquitted them in 1978. Grindlays Bank appealed; after a six‑year delay, the Calcutta High Court set aside the acquittal and …

Surendra Koli, a former domestic help at the Nithari residence, was convicted for the murder, rape and related offences of a minor based on a Section 164 confession and alleged discoveries under Section 27 of the Evidence Act. The Supreme Court had earlier affirmed his conviction and death sentence in 2011, and a revie…

The appellant, a 55‑year‑old mother‑in‑law, was granted regular bail by the First Additional Sessions Judge in a dowry‑related murder case, despite earlier allegations that she was absconding. The High Court, exercising suo motu powers under Section 439(2) of the CrPC, cancelled that bail, contending that the trial cou…

The appellants were convicted for rioting, destruction of public property and related offences based largely on the testimony of eyewitnesses identified through two Test Identification Parades (TIPs). The witnesses had earlier seen the accused while they were in police custody, and the TIPs were conducted after a signi…

Istkar, a daily‑wage worker, was required to furnish a personal bond of Rs 5,00,000 under Section 107 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to keep the peace during Panchayat elections. After alleged obstruction of officials and illegal construction, the Sub‑Divisional Magistrate forfeited the bond ex parte, directi…

The appellant O.M. Cherian (Thankachan) was convicted under Sections 498A and 306 IPC for the suicide of his wife and was sentenced to two years and seven years of rigorous imprisonment respectively, with the sentences ordered to run consecutively by the trial court and the Kerala High Court. The appeal before the Supr…

Joginder Singh, selected for the post of Constable in Chandigarh Police, was denied appointment after a criminal case (FIR No. 200) was discovered during verification. He had been honourably acquitted by the Additional Sessions Judge, Bhiwani, on 4 October 1999. The appellant disclosed the existence of the case and its…

Nar Singh was convicted under Section 302 IPC and Section 25(1B) of the Arms Act for the murder of Rajbir, based largely on circumstantial evidence and a forensic science laboratory (FSL) report (Ex‑P12) linking a recovered bullet to a country‑made pistol. The trial court and the High Court failed to put the FSL report…

The petitioners, who are Judges of Family Courts in Maharashtra, sought elevation to the Bombay High Court, arguing that they hold a "judicial office" under Article 217(2)(a) of the Constitution. The Supreme Court examined whether Family Courts qualify as courts in the constitutional sense, whether their judges are par…

The deceased, Neeru Gupta, committed suicide in 1985 and her brother filed a complaint alleging dowry demand and ill‑treatment by her husband and in‑laws. The trial court acquitted the accused, finding no proof of dowry demand or cruelty and noting the deceased suffered from mental illness. The High Court reversed the …

Gulam Mohd (Gulal Shaikh) was charged under several IPC, POTA and Arms Act provisions for alleged terrorist activities. He claimed that a confession recorded under Section 32 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002 was obtained while he was in illegal custody and later retracted it. He applied for bail under Section 4…

The appellant, Sri Krishna Agencies, filed a criminal complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for three dishonoured cheques of Rs. 5 lakh each. The respondent argued that the dispute was already before an arbitration forum and therefore the matter was civil, prompting the Andhra Pradesh High Court…

The husband of the petitioner, Madhava Rao, was detained under Section 3 of the Prevention of Blackmarketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980 for allegedly diverting levy cement meant for railway construction to private works. The petitioner challenged the detention through a writ petition…

Gopinath Ghosh was convicted by a Sessions Court and sentenced to life imprisonment for murder under IPC sections 302 and 34. He later contended before the Supreme Court that he was a "child" under the West Bengal Children Act, 1959, being only 16‑17 years old at the time of the offence. The Court ordered a medical age…

The Supreme Court examined the constitutionality of Section 433A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, which imposes a mandatory minimum of fourteen years’ imprisonment on two categories of life‑sentence convicts – those convicted of offences where death is a possible punishment and those whose death sentence was co…

Shildagouda Ningappa Ghandavar was convicted of murdering a young boy during a land dispute. Both the Sessions Court and the High Court sentenced him to death, providing special reasons. The appellant appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that the death penalty was excessive. The Court examined the nature of the crime…

The appellants, directors of Cachet Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd., were charged under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 for manufacturing a sub‑standard drug (Hemfer syrup) and were summoned as accused under sections 16, 18 and 34. They challenged the summons, a criminal revision and a writ petition, arguing that mere dire…

Vijay Rajmohan, a Central Secretariat Service officer, was alleged to have amassed disproportionate assets and was investigated by the CBI, which sought sanction for prosecution under Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). The DoPT consulted the Central Vigi…

The appellant was convicted for the murder of a shepherd, Ramesh, and for concealing the body under sections 302 and 201 of the IPC, based largely on an alleged confessional statement and the recovery of three sheep allegedly sold by the appellant. The prosecution could not positively identify the recovered sheep as th…

The petitioners filed a writ petition under Articles 32 and 21 of the Constitution seeking a Supreme Court order directing the Union of India to constitute a special committee, headed by a retired Supreme Court judge, to re‑investigate all bomb‑blast cases since 2002, alleging that innocent Muslim youths were being fal…

The case involved the murder of Kamini Verma and her uncle Rakesh Kumar by accused Dheeraj Verma and Deepak Verma, who allegedly fired a double‑barrel gun after a rejected marriage proposal. The prosecution relied on the victim’s dying declaration, corroborated by three eyewitnesses, and on evidence that the second acc…

The appellant R. Vijayan filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act after a Rs.20,000 cheque issued by the first respondent was dishonoured. The First Class Magistrate convicted the respondent, imposing a fine of Rs.2,000 and directing payment of Rs.20,000 as compensation, with default impris…

The appellant, Trimukh Maroti Kirkan, was married to Revata, who repeatedly complained of physical abuse and denial of food because her parents could not meet a dowry demand of Rs.25,000. Revata died under circumstances initially reported as a snake bite, but a post‑mortem revealed death by asphyxiation due to strangul…

The petitioners, sons of murder victims, challenged the Governor of Andhra Pradesh’s order granting remission of the unserved portion of a ten‑year rigorous imprisonment sentence imposed on respondent No.2 for murder. They argued that the remission was granted on irrelevant and extraneous material, without proper appli…

The appellant alleged that the respondents forged documents to withdraw large sums from a bank, invoking several sections of the Indian Penal Code. A magistrate took cognizance and issued process, but the respondents filed a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC seeking to quash the criminal proceedings, arguing that …

The appellants were charged under the Dowry Prohibition Act and Section 498‑A IPC for dowry harassment. After the prosecution evidence was closed, the trial court dispensed with personal examination of two accused under Section 313 CrPC and acquitted them. The High Court set aside the acquittal, directing personal exam…

Dr. K.C. Saksena, a medical officer, was caught in a trap for allegedly demanding a bribe. After investigation, the State Government granted sanction for prosecution under Section 6 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Before a challan could be filed, Saksena invoked Section 482 of the CrPC and obtained a stay; the Hig…

A case was registered under Section 31 of the Representation of People Act, 1950, which is a non‑cognizable offence. The police filed an FIR and investigated, submitting a report seeking the appellant's discharge. The Chief Judicial Magistrate, relying on the report, took cognizance and proceeded against the appellant.…

George Kutty Kuncheria, an Indian citizen, was arrested in Kerala following a U.S. request for his extradition on charges of embezzlement and related offences. The United States supplied authenticated documents, and the Indian Government ordered a magisterial inquiry under the Extradition Act, 1962. The appellant chall…

The appellant, a 17‑year‑old who was assaulted during communal riots in Akola on 13 May 2023, claimed that the police failed to register a First Information Report (FIR) despite his written complaint and hospital statement. He alleged that the assailants also murdered a man mistakenly identified as a Muslim, and that h…

The appellant Sukhjit Singh was convicted under Section 364 IPC for allegedly abducting his wife Kuljit Kaur and sentenced to ten years' rigorous imprisonment. The trial court and the High Court upheld the conviction, relying mainly on evidence establishing the marital relationship, while ignoring the mother’s testimon…

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) complained that a candidate had used unfair means in the Indian Forest Service examination and asked the CBI to investigate. The CBI filed a closure report under Section 173 of the CrPC, but failed to give the UPSC proper notice of its right to object. The Metropolitan Magistr…

The accused Rajendra Jawanmal Gandhi was charged with raping an eight‑year‑old girl. The trial court convicted him under Section 376 IPC and sentenced him to seven years' rigorous imprisonment. The Bombay High Court set aside the rape conviction, finding only an attempt and convicting him under Section 354 IPC, also re…

The Delhi Judicial Service Association filed writ petitions under Article 32 after the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) of Nadiad was allegedly assaulted, handcuffed, tied with rope and photographed by police officers, an incident that shocked the judiciary nationwide. The Supreme Court examined whether it possessed inh…

Ashok Kumar was charged with murdering his sister‑in‑law, Asha Rani, by burning her to death in a dowry‑related dispute. The trial court acquitted him, finding no motive, contradictions in medical testimony, and a defective investigation. The Rajasthan High Court, invoking Sections 378 and 386 of the CrPC, set aside th…

The appellant, an Assistant Superintendent of Jail, was alleged to have facilitated a private vehicle ride for two police constables escorting an undertrial prisoner, during which two unidentified youths attacked the constables with red chilli powder, a knife and a kirpan, attempting to free the prisoner. The prosecuti…

The case concerned the convictions of Manoj Kumar Soni under Section 411 IPC for dishonestly receiving stolen property and Kallu (Habib) under Section 120‑B IPC for criminal conspiracy in a robbery of a complainant’s house. Both convictions were based primarily on disclosure statements made by the accused and co‑accuse…

The appellant, Sathyan, was arrested in October 2003 for carrying five litres of arrack in his autorickshaw and was convicted under Section 8 of the Abkari Act based solely on the testimony of two official witnesses, an Excise Inspector and an Assistant Excise Inspector. He challenged the conviction, arguing that the l…

The appellants, Wyeth Limited and others, challenged an FIR and charge‑sheet that were registered on the basis of a private complaint filed by the second respondent, a former carrying and forwarding agent. The complaint alleged commercial disputes over a warehousing agreement but, on a careful reading, did not disclose…

The appellant, a civil engineer, invested money with the respondents based on a profit‑sharing agreement, but the respondents failed to repay and issued a cheque that later bounced. The appellant filed a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, and subsequently the respondents sought to quash the …

The victim, Saraswati Guchhait, was allegedly raped by Purnendu Kumar Patra and later, while the rape case was pending, Patra and Rabin Jana threw acid on her. She was taken to a hospital, where she could not file a police complaint herself; a neighbour (PW‑7) wrote her statement and mailed it, resulting in a 23‑day de…

The appellant, having given a loan of Rs.60 lakh, received three cheques from the respondent which were dishonoured by stop‑payment. He issued a handwritten notice on 27 April 2012 and a formal legal notice on 24 May 2012 demanding payment, and subsequently filed a criminal complaint under Sections 138, 141, 142 of the…

The appellant Babu was charged under IPC s.302 for allegedly murdering his wife by giving her sodium cyanide disguised as an ayurvedic contraceptive. The trial court acquitted him due to lack of direct evidence and doubts about the prosecution's version, but the Kerala High Court reversed the acquittal and convicted hi…

The accused Vikas Chaudhary and co‑accused abducted a young man, killed him and thereafter made repeated ransom calls to the victim's parents. The petitioner argued that the offence under IPC s.364A was completed at the time of abduction and that he was a juvenile when the offence was committed, invoking the Juvenile J…

The Supreme Court examined whether a confession or statement recorded under Section 32 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002 (POTA) can be used as substantive evidence against co‑accused. The Bombay High Court Full Bench had held that such a confession could not be substantive evidence against co‑accused but could b…

The Supreme Court examined the murder of Sujatha, whose husband Babu was accused of strangling her after she rebuffed his sexual advances and subsequently dumping her body in a well. The trial court convicted Babu under Section 302 IPC and imposed death, but the Kerala High Court acquitted him, deeming the father's tes…

The State of Andhra Pradesh prosecuted twenty‑one accused for a night‑time raid on the house of Gankidi Mohan Reddy that resulted in his murder. The trial court convicted eleven of them under Sections 148, 302 read with 149 IPC and related offences; the High Court set aside the convictions of six accused under Sections…

Two employees of a nationalised bank and two account‑holders were charged with conspiracy, cheating, forgery and corruption for allegedly withdrawing Rs.54,600 on the basis of false credit entries. The High Court quashed the proceedings against one employee, holding that the FIR, taken at face value, did not disclose a…

The appellants were convicted under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for issuing a cheque that bounced due to insufficient funds. After a series of appeals, the High Court reinstated the conviction, but the parties subsequently entered into a settlement agreement where the appellants paid the complainant R…

The Supreme Court addressed a series of applications concerning bail procedures, directing that any non‑compliance with Sections 41 and 41A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) automatically entitles the accused to bail. It emphasized that courts must verify compliance with these sections before authorising detenti…

The Supreme Court examined appeals by four accused (A‑1, A‑4 to A‑6) who were convicted for conspiring to wage war against the Government of India under IPC s.121A, along with offences under the Explosive Substances Act, 1908 and the Arms Act, 1959. The prosecution relied on recovered explosives, arms, inflammatory lit…

Abu Salem Abdul Kayyum Ansari, a convicted terrorist, was arrested in Portugal on a fake passport, sentenced there and later extradited to India after the Government of India gave a solemn sovereign assurance that he would not face the death penalty or imprisonment beyond 25 years. The appellant challenged the Indian c…

The deceased was found dead on 30 May 2011 and an FIR was lodged; the father (PW‑1) and brother (PW‑2) of the deceased gave statements that eventually pointed suspicion at the appellant, a friend of the deceased. A firearm and related items were recovered under Section 27 of the Indian Evidence Act, but the recovery wa…

The State of West Bengal appealed against the Calcutta High Court’s order granting bail to Rakesh Singh, who was accused under Sections 21(b), 29 and 27A of the NDPS Act for allegedly financing the procurement of cocaine and planting it in a motorcar to frame two occupants. The Supreme Court examined the credibility of…

The State of Uttar Pradesh and the original informant appealed against a judgment of the Allahabad High Court that, invoking Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code, quashed the criminal proceedings arising from FIRs (Cr. No. 260/2018 and 227/2019) alleging disappearance of trucks loaded with beer and offences under…

The mother of two children filed a complaint alleging that her son Rahul murdered her daughter Kavita and son Gaurang. The trial court convicted Rahul under Section 302 IPC, sentencing him to life imprisonment. On appeal, the High Court acquitted him, holding that the prosecution failed to establish a complete chain of…

The appellants Amrik Singh and Subhash Chander were convicted of murder and robbery under IPC s.302 r/w s.34 and s.392 based primarily on the eye‑witness PW1’s identification of them in the courtroom and the recovery of Rs.1 lakh each from them. No Test Identification Parade (TIP) had been conducted, and the FIR did no…

The appellants, selected as police constable trainees, staged a dharna on 17 April 2010 and were briefly taken to a police station. Later, they were discharged on the ground that they had allegedly suppressed information about a criminal case in their attestation forms. The State Administrative Tribunal and the High Co…

The State of West Bengal prosecuted eight accused for the murder of Archideb Bhattacharjee, alleging they demanded money, strangulated him, dismembered his body and disposed of it in gunny bags. The trial court sentenced all to death, which was reduced to life imprisonment by the High Court, except for the theft charge…

The appellants entered the deceased's house at night, broke the door and assaulted the deceased and his family with lathis, resulting in the deceased's death. They claimed the right of private defence, arguing they were protecting their property from the deceased's alleged complaint. The trial court convicted them unde…

Mahila Vinod Kumari filed a rape complaint against two men, who were later acquitted when she recanted her statement during trial, claiming she had never been raped. The trial court found that she had deliberately fabricated false evidence and, under Section 344 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, sentenced her to…

Manjula Sinha filed a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC seeking quashing of an FIR registered under Sections 498A and 406 IPC. The Allahabad High Court dismissed the petition, directing that she not be arrested and imposing a maintenance condition. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the scope of the High Court'…

The State of Maharashtra appealed the acquittal of B.C. Raghani (A1), Subhash Bind (A5) and Shekhar Kadam (A6) in a contract‑killing case involving the murder of businessman Pradeep Jain. The prosecution’s case hinged on confessional statements of A5 and A6 recorded by a DCP under Section 15 of the Terrorist and Disrup…

Hiten P. Dalal (appellant) issued four cheques to Standard Chartered Bank between December 1991 and March 1992 for securities transactions. The cheques were dishonoured for insufficient funds and the bank served notices under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. Dalal was convicted by a Special Court establis…

The appellants Chand Khan and Shabbu were charged with murder, assault and related offences arising from a night‑time attack on Shah Alam and others on 26 May 1977. The trial court acquitted all nine accused, disbelieving the testimony of four eye‑witnesses, but the Allahabad High Court set aside the acquittal and conv…

A Food Inspector entered the appellant's grocery shop and demanded a sample of dhania for analysis. The appellant left the shop under the pretext of passing urine and did not return for about one and a half hours, after which the inspector took the sample in his absence. The appellant was charged under Section 16(1)(c)…

The District Civil Surgeon, acting as the appropriate authority under the Pre‑Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994, conducted a search, seized Dr. Ramesh’s sonography equipment and issued a notice under s.20(1) of the Act. Dr. Ramesh appeared before the Advisory Committee, which found pr…

Chand Dhawan (wife) appealed against the Punjab & Haryana High Court’s order dismissing her claim for permanent alimony under Section 25 of the Hindu Marriage Act and also setting aside the maintenance pendente lite granted under Section 24. The wife had filed a petition for permanent alimony and maintenance after a di…

The appellants, who were family members, were charged under Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST Act and Section 506 read with Section 34 of the IPC for allegedly hurling caste‑based insults and threatening the complainant inside a residential house. The trial court framed charges, which the High Court upheld, but…

The appeal concerned an Inspector, Sanjay Dubey, who was found prima facie guilty of dereliction of duty for failing to ensure DNA testing in a sensitive case involving offences under the IPC, POCSO Act, SC/ST Act and IT Act. While the High Court, hearing a bail application under Section 439 CrPC, directed departmental…

Raj Kumar (also known as Suman) was convicted for murder and attempted murder arising from a 1995 incident, based solely on the testimony of PW‑5 that he was standing with a katta (handgun) near the gate of the crime scene. The trial court failed to put this material circumstance to the accused during his Section 313 e…

The Supreme Court examined the appeal of sixteen accused convicted under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) for a series of bomb blasts on Indian trains in December 1993. The Court held that Section 20A(1) of TADA makes prior approval of the District Superintendent of Police an absolute pre…

The State of Rajasthan appealed the acquittal of Sri Chand, who was charged with attempt to rape a 12‑year‑old girl and outraging her modesty. The trial court convicted him only under IPC s.354 and granted probation, while the High Court upheld that order. The Supreme Court held that the evidence did not prove the atte…

The Supreme Court examined a writ petition filed by Samaj Parivartan Samuday alleging continued illegal mining of iron ore in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, despite earlier orders and a CBI charge‑sheet. The Court considered reports of a Central Empowered Committee (CEC) that identified irregularities, including land de…

The accused Sandeep and Shashi Bhushan were apprehended by police after a girl, Jyoti, reported that they had assaulted her, poured acid on her and attempted to abort her foetus. The victim later died, and the trial court convicted both under Sections 302 and 316 IPC, sentencing them to death. The High Court confirmed …

The case stems from the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, where the CBI filed charge sheets alleging offences under Sections 304, 324, 326, 429 and 35 IPC. The Sessions Court framed those charges, but the Supreme Court, in Keshub Mahindra v. State of M.P. (1996), quashed them and directed that only Section 304A IPC could be fra…

Amar Singh filed a writ petition under Article 32 alleging that his telephone conversations were intercepted by the Government of India and the Delhi administration at the behest of a political party, and sought an injunction and damages. The petition relied on annexes that were later shown to be forged and were obtain…

K.A. Abbas was convicted under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for issuing a bounced cheque and was sentenced to one year imprisonment with a direction to pay Rs 5 lakhs compensation to the complainant under Section 357(3) of the CrPC, with a default imprisonment of two months for non‑payment. He paid par…

The appellant, M.P. Peter, claimed ownership of 13.25 cents of land in Kizhakkambalam and was ordered by a Sub‑Divisional Magistrate under Section 145 of the CrPC to hand the property over to the respondent. The Sessions Court reversed that order, but the High Court restored it, and the Supreme Court dismissed the appe…